Football team’s brothers enhance chemistry

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Junior Quinn Sybert (35) kicks off in the Loyalty Day football game against Grant on Aug. 31. Quinn and his brother, senior Owen Sybert, are one of five sets of brothers on the varsity football team. Photo by Richard Chu

The Glenbrook North defense takes the field on the opponent’s 30 yard line, leading Grant in the third quarter. Junior Quinn Sybert breaks out of the huddle at linebacker and senior Owen Sybert, his brother, lines up as a defensive back. Owen matches up man-to-man against a Grant receiver. His opponent runs three yards and curls back towards the line of scrimmage. As the quarterback brings his arm back, Owen jumps the route and intercepts the pass. He returns it to the ten yard line putting GBN in scoring position. Quinn follows his brother to celebrate the pick. The Spartans’ offense would come onto the field and score on the next play.

Quinn said he was proud to see his brother make a big play to help the team seal a win.

“I turned around to see [Owen] get the pick,” said Quinn. “It’s a great feeling.”

The Spartans won the game 42-19, adding another win to their record on the year. The team receives contributions from five sets of brothers including Owen and Quinn.

Head football coach Bob Pieper said he has never had a team with so many pairs of brothers on it.

“We have had brothers on the team before, and we’ve had a lot of brothers throughout the program, but not as many at the same time,” Pieper said.

According to Pieper, with so many brothers on the team, he has to call the brothers by their first names to avoid both brothers responding.

Senior Peter Mayer said the coaches generally refer to players by their last names, but it has created communication issues during practices. Peter plays alongside his brother senior Jackson Mayer.

“The coaches call both of us Mayer, so it gets really confusing,” Peter said.

According to Owen, having the brothers helps improve the team chemistry.

“We have a really good sense of family,” said Owen. “We have a really good bond, [we] push each other in every practice.”

Pieper said he can normally distinguish which players are younger, but this year he cannot.

“It’s interesting because [normally] when you go out there as a coach, [you go], ‘Those are sophomores, those are juniors, those are seniors,’” said Pieper. “You don’t really know this year, they kind of intermingle and mix well together.”

According to Quinn, having an older brother on the team connects different age groups and brings them closer together.

As of Sept. 21, the team has a record of 3-2. It is 0-1 in conference games. Senior Ben Kieffer leads the team in receiving yards and Junior Alex Borczyk and Quinn lead the team in tackles.

According to Pieper, the team has been preaching “we over me” and “team over self” the entire season.

Pieper said outside of the brothers, the team has exceptional leadership.

“A lot of these [sophomores] don’t drive yet. The seniors are picking them up, the juniors are picking them up,” said Pieper. “They are doing everything they can to help them.”

Quinn said having so many brothers on the team brings the team closer together.

“Everyone on the team I could call my brother,” said Quinn. “Everyone on the team plays for each other.”